In mid-2012, Luna County manager Kelly Kuenstler sent a letter that could end up being worth $1 billion.

She had sent the letter to Pegasus Global Holdings, the international company hoping to open a Center for Innovation, Testing and Evaluation, after the company pulled out of possibly locating in Hobbs.

On Thursday, during a special meeting, the Luna County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an economic development agreement that will give Kuenstler the ability to negotiate with the company moving forward.

"We've got a spot for you to come here," she said, quoting the letter she wrote.

Since sending the letter pitching Luna County, she says the company has made "five or six" exploratory trips to the county. Those trips included teams of "professional developers" and engineers, she said.

Pegasus officials announced they were pulling out of Hobbs in early July to re-evaluate Doña Ana County as a possible site.

In light of Luna County's announcement, the company has not come out and explicitly said Doña Ana County is no longer an option. Current plans provide for the possibility that the main 15-square mile site would be located in Luna County, with a portion in Doña Ana County.

"No land has been purchased from Luna County," she said. "They are in the process of evaluating land in Luna County."

But Pegasus officials have said the county's economic development measure should not be interpreted as a decision by the company to locate in Luna County.

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Pegasus spokesperson Alarie Ray-Garcia recently said all other locations are still on the table. Other potential locations include around Albuquerque, Roswell and Las Cruces.

"I want to emphasize we're in competition with these other areas," Chairman Jay Spivey said.

That uncertainty did not sit well with local resident Larry Caldwell, who did not speak against the project outright, but said the agreement is "premature."

"I don't want to give the county manager this authority until we have a good faith effort," he said. "That entity should do something to demonstrate he has a good faith effort instead of trawling the state."

He felt the company should have purchased the land before the agreement was signed, but Kuenstler later said land dealings are between the company and landowners.

The other locals who commented during the meeting were generally in favor of the project, citing the need for jobs in the area. Pegasus says the project could create 350 permanent jobs and about 3,000 jobs during construction.

"I'm all for this," local Fred Tiedge said.

He was one of the five members of the public who spoke on the issue. Two complained about a lack of notice for the agenda or documents missing from an e-mail. Two voiced support for the project with Caldwell not taking a position, but saying Thursday's measure was premature.

The approved agreement outlines a scope of one year for the project to begin with the agreement itself lasting for two years.

The company hopes to open the facility to develop and test commercial technologies in what would essentially be a "ghost town" comprised of urban and rural environments to replicate a modern city.

A copy of a presentation delivered by Pegasus senior managing director Robert Brumley to the "Re-energize America Conference" held Oct. 18 in Las Cruces is available on the county website, www.lunacountynm.us under the "COUNTY POSTINGS" listing.

Matt Robinson can be reached at mrobinson@demingheadlight.com. Follow him on Twitter: @mattrob722